During the month in Spain there were a lot of new things I had to adjust for. The culture shock was inevitable, but I did not expect the challenges of the language barrier to have such an affect on me. I learned to be patient, patient with myself and others I interacted with. Trying to order food from a restaurant, a simple task, became extremely difficult with the language barrier. At some points I felt like the “dumb American”, going to another country and seeing that most everyone was able to speak multiple languages while I was struggling to order a simple cheeseburger. The hustle and bustle of the city was also a shock, the rush to get on the subway and the rush to get off, always making sure I wasn’t about to get pickpocketed was very different for me. I am so thankful for the experience of this trip, learning, understanding, and interacting with the vastly different cultures gave me invaluable insight into the lives of others.
For any aggies planning or wanting to study abroad in Spain, our professors said it best, be flexible. Be flexible with the school schedule, the excursions, and any trips you plan to take throughout the study abroad. Being flexible will save yourself a lot of headaches and stress. There is also a need for flexibility on the timing of everything, many businesses close during the afternoon for a siesta and people typically do not eat dinner until 9 or 9:30 at night which is so weird for us Americans. Another important thing is embracing the culture, especially in Spain, there are many different cultural regions with their respective cultures. Making friends with locals, trying all the different foods, and interacting with sports and festivals are a great way to embrace and be a part of the beautiful cultures in Spain. I would encourage everyone to take this opportunity to expand their horizons and grow their own understanding. It was a wonderful experience and I wish I was back at Aparto (our dorm we lived in)!!
